MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. - Cameron Schurlknight, of Venice, Fla., caught a redfish and speckled sea trout that measured a combined 64.25 inches in length to win the first event of the season for the Florida East Division of the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour presented by Hobie Fishing at Jacksonville, Fla., on April 28.

A former winner of several IFA Kayak events, Schurlknight sight-fished schools of redfish and trout in the Mosquito Lagoon grass flats. The veteran winner took advantage of contingency prize programs to add to the $1,500 first place prize.

Schurlknight padded his winnings with $541 in Angler's Advantage cash and by winning the $100 Berkley Big Fish award for his 40.50-inch redfish. The angler also won the $200 Hobie Top Angler award for having the highest placed finish for an angler competing out of a Hobie kayak.

Ryan Conner measured a total of 59.75 inches to secure the $1,000 second-place prize. In his fourth year fishing the IFA, Conner is no stranger to placing high in the standings. This marks his third time to place in the top three in the standings of an IFA event.

"Cameron caught some quality fish and is a great angler," said Conner. "I'm completely thrilled with second place. I can't wait for the next event."

Conner experienced calm conditions early and fished swimbaits for trout and hardbaits for redfish.

"It was calm in the morning, three to five knots out of the southeast," said Conner. "I fished mud flats and traveled about a half of a mile."

Third-place finisher Eddie Cabler, of Jacksonville, Fla., won $500 for his redfish and trout that measured a total of 52.63 inches. The angler caught most of his fish early in the Intracoastal Waterway with jigs and softbaits.

Shawn Beltz failed to boat a redfish but won the $100 Big Trout award for his 29.25 trout.